Islam and the Freedom of Conscience — Page 42
~ 42 ~ propagation of Islam was in accordance with the Divine commandment to spread the teachings of Islam to those who did not know about it. The purpose behind it was to grant nearness of God to others, and it was done out of sympathy for others. An incident about one of the prisoners is related as follows: Sa‘ i d bin Ab i Sa‘ i d narrates that he heard Hadrat Ab u Hurairah ra say that when the Holy Prophet sa sent an expedition to Najad a person from the tribe of Ban u H an i fah , named Thum a mah bin Ath a l, was brought in as a prisoner. The Companions ra tied him to a pillar of the Prophet's sa Mosque. The Holy Prophet sa came to him and inquired, 'O Thum a mah, what is your excuse or what do you think will be done with you?' He replied, 'I have a positive expectation. If you have me killed, you will be killing a murderer. If you show me goodwill, you will be, favouring a person who values kindness. If you want property you may have as much as you like. ' His people could give property for him. The next day, the Holy Prophet sa again came by and asked Thum a mah what did he wish? He replied that he had already said the previous day that if a favour was bestowed on him it would be a favour on a person who valued kindness. The Holy Prophet sa left him there. On the third day he returned and